Not many schools the size of Whitehall can boast of a Major League baseball player, a professional golfer and an NFL football
player.

Nate McLouth, now back with the Pittsburgh
Pirates, has already played seven seasons in the major leagues. Laura
Kueny, who
made it to the final stage of LPGA Q School last month, played in
the 2010 U.S. Women's Open and is a member of the LPGA Futures
Tour.

Ryan VanBergen could complete this triangle
based on his amazing improvement this season, which mirrors the
improvement of
the Michigan defense as a whole. He has risen to become a
prospective NFL defensive end and is projected as a fourth- or
fifth-round
draft pick.

VanBergen, a 6-foot-6, 283-pound senior defensive end from Whitehall, will play his final game for the maize-and-blue tonight
against Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl.

I had a blast watching Michigan State rally behind one amazing leader from West Michigan, the aforementioned Kirk Cousins.

Tonight, I hope to have just as much fun watching another local kid again show the country the leadership, work ethic, toughness
and football talent which is emblematic of our area.